ACT Women’s Premier League Round 9 Review

A solitary goal from Grace Gill nine minutes from time earned Canberra FC a 1-0 victory over Weston-Molonglo FC in Round 9 of the ACT Women’s Premier League at Deakin Stadium. Gill struck with time running out to decide an even contest in favour of the home team and record what could prove to be a priceless three points for FC. In truth they just about deserved their success from a fixture which saw both teams pass up reasonable opportunities to score in the opening stanza and that looked increasingly likely to be settled by one moment of quality as the game ticked on. Gill, a regular with Canberra United in the Westfield W-League, provided that moment in the last ten minutes but it was the Canberra FC defence that impressed the most, standing firm when required and holding out the Magpies attack. With Belconnen United playing Monaro Panthers, FC took the chance to close the gap on the Panthers but, perhaps significantly, have played a match more than the table topping Monaro and three more than the Blue Devils who are chasing them down in third. For Weston the chances of making the top four appear ever more remote following this defeat which leaves them eight points outside the top four.

Tuggeranong United 8 v ANU WFC 0

Tuggeranong United heaped more misery on ANU WFC as they romped to an 8-0 victory over ANU WFC at Kambah 2 on a wet, wild and windy day in Canberra. United was too good for the University team across the ninety minutes despite the visitors fighting until the death and putting together some fine passages of play in tricky conditions. Tuggeranong took the lead in the 22nd minute as Kristy Helmers found space in the penalty area to net and, with ANU resolve broken the hosts took only sixty seconds to increase he lead as Dianne Wilson made it 2-0. ANU battled back but Tuggeranong went into the half-time break 3-0 ahead after Snez Veljanovska netted her third goal of the season. It was a similar tale in the second half as Tuggeranong struck twice in quick succession once more. Helmers bagged her second of the match in the 53rd minute before Samantha Wood made it 5-0 with her sixth of the season only two minutes later. The recruitment of Adrianna Gjonovich on a short-term deal looks like a good piece of business for Tuggeranong and she scored twice in the space of four minutes just past the hour mark. Ann Mayo concluded the scoring with five minutes remaining, rounding out a good day for United.

Canberra Olympic 0 v ACTAS 6

ACTAS recorded a fifth win in seven starts as they crushed Canberra Olympic 6-0 in poor conditions as Round 9 of the Women’s Premier League was played on a rainy day. The Academy team was 3-0 ahead by the half-time whistle having outplayed their more experienced opponents and comfortably increased their lead after the interval to claim a precious three points. As has been the case for most of the season Olympic was competitive in much of the fixture and threatened to break their goal drought but, once more, could not create the chances needed to breach the Academy defence. At the other end ACTAS had little trouble finding the net with their leading scorer Mikayla Van Deyk netting four goals to move onto thirteen for the season, just five behind the leading scorer Meg McLaughlin. It was far from a one person show however as ACTAS looked sharp and incisive throughout the team, moving the ball with a slickness and fluidity that flummoxed their opponents and a cohesiveness that bodes well for the rest of the competition. As well as Van Deyk’s four goal haul, there were first goals of the season for Brigitte Calabria and Emma Bestek as ACTAS remained in fourth place on the ladder, two points clear of Tuggeranong United.

Monaro Panthers 0 v Belconnen United 5

REPORT BY JOHN COLLEY: The Monaro Panthers winning start to the season has come to an abrupt end due to a dominant performance from Belconnen United at the Riverside Stadium. United took the lead in the opening ten minutes when Jessie Williams pounced on a loose ball in Monaro’s defence, before crossing to Michaela Day who smartly played the ball onto Sally Rojahn who finished with authority. Belconnen looked to exploit the pace of Williams out wide and were rewarded ten minutes later when Rojahn turned provider, playing a sublime ball through for Williams who finished with authority. Monaro pushed to get back into the match before half time, and would have managed to if not for a couple of top shelf saves by Maja Blasch in the Belconnen goal. The second half started much the same as the first, with Belconnen extending their lead through Talia Backhouse, who finished from close distance after great build up play from Day and Williams. Then for a second week in a row Williams scored a double as she was again fed by Sally Rojahn before finishing powerfully to the far post. However, Belconnen were not done yet, as Caitlin Munoz turned sharply on the ball and found substitute Madelyn Whittall who added her team’s fifth for the match. Belconnen put on a ruthless performance not allowing the attacking trio of Monaro to get going with a terrific all-round team display.